The California Rifle & Pistol Association, founded in 1875, provides training in the safe, responsible, and enjoyable use of firearms; sanctions competitive shooting state championships; and fights for the constitutional right to keep and bear arms for those who choose to own a gun in California for sport, hunting, or self-defense.

About CRPA Foundation

The California Rifle and Pistol Association Foundation was formed in 2004 to raise funds to support eligible programs and advance the mission and goals of the CRPA, its members, and California gun owners.

Contributions to the CRPA Foundation are used for the benefit of Californians who believe in the right to choose to own a gun for sport, hunting, or to defend themselves and their families. CRPA Foundation funds support charitable, educational, scientific, public interest activities that promote and defend the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans.

Supporters of and donors to the CRPA Foundation are key in the fight to promote and protect the rights of firearm owners in California!

The CRPA Foundation is a tax-exempt entity incorporated under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and under California law. Contributions to the CRPA Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law (Consult a tax professional for specific advice on how such contributions may be tax deductible.).

CRPA Foundation supported programs include:

Litigation

CRPA Foundation funds are also used to support litigation that seeks to strike down unconstitutional laws, defend and expand legal recognition of the rights protected by the Second Amendment. CRPA Foundation and the NRA have been working together and actively litigating California gun owners’ rights cases together for decades.

In recognition of the increased need for litigation after the United States Supreme Court’s June 2008 decision in Heller vs. Distict of Columbia affirming the Second Amendment as a fundamental individual right, and the June 28, 2010 decision in McDonald vs. Chicago confirming that the Second Amendment’s protections limit state and local governments from unconstitutionally infringing on the right to keep and bear arms, a primary focus of the Foundation has been to fund litigation advocating on behalf of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense, hunting, and other purposes. The ruling in the hard fought McDonald case (in which CRPA Foundation filed an amicus brief, click here to read it) opened the door for more legal challenges to state and local gun laws in California.

CRPA is the only California civil rights advocacy group working hand-in-hand and case-by-case with NRA to advance strategic litigation to benefit California gun owners. Only CRPA is coordinating its litigation efforts with NRA’s top notch legal team of firearm lawyers and experts from across the country. Those lawyers and experts have decades of experience litigating Second Amendment civil rights issues. They literally wrote the books on Second Amendment law. That experience and perspective is more critical than ever. Now that we have court rulings confirming that the Second Amendment civil right applies nationally, winning decisions in other jurisdictions can be used as important legal precedent in California. So a national perspective is essential to successful local action.

Sometimes, keeping our efforts low profile increases our chances of success in court. Though its involvement is not always publicized, CRPA Foundation is supporting many cases in the California courts, and plans for many more. But California and Ninth Circuit judges are still generally hostile to Second Amendment claims, and are often inclined to take advantage of any weakness in a Second Amendment case. Several bad court decisions have already resulted from inexperienced lawyers filing strategically unwise, ill-timed, or ill-conceived lawsuits, or making ineffective or poorly prepared arguments to the California courts.

Don’t be fooled by reckless promises. One of the biggest threats to our freedom may actually come from well meaning “activists” and inexperienced lawyers naively think it is easy to win a Second Amendment lawsuit. We don’t need any more bad law. With your help, CRPA Foundation and the NRA can bring the right cases, with the right lawyers, with the right plaintiffs, at the right time.

Training and Education

CRPA Foundation funds are used to benefit a wide variety of programs, including youth training, new shooter development, and classes for women.

Part of CRPA Foundation’s mission is to educate the public about the historic, technological, and aesthetic significance of firearms. CPRA Foundation supported exhibitions and displays put historically significant firearms in the hands of folks who then come to appreciate their significance. The historical significance of firearms and their development continues to fascinate and educate those who see these exhibitions and collections.

Modern day social and digital media campaigns are critical to educating the public and getting the truth out about the social value and utility of firearms. CRPA Foundation funds digital media campaigns including public service announcements educate the public regarding firearms and firearms safety. CRPA Foundation also publishes and distributes a number of booklets and brochures about gun laws, gun safety, and other topics of interest to California gun owners.

Gun Safety

CRPA Foundation funds support gun safety efforts that educate the public, and that make state and local officials aware of gun safety programs at their disposal that are effective in reducing accidents and violence without infringing on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Each year, those of Vietnamese descent celebrate the coming lunar year with Tết NguyênĐán, the beginning of Spring and a way to start fresh. We are proud and honored to annually present to the community the largest Tet Festival in the entire world. The UVSA Tet Festival attracts over 60,000 guests annually and immerses them in culturally enriching attractions, live entertainment, festive games & rides, a variety of ethnic foods, and a spectacular firecrackers show celebrating the new year over the three-day weekend event. Located in the heart of Orange County and a short drive from Los Angeles or San Diego, the UVSA Tet Festival is the best way to spend the Lunar New Year holiday weekend in Southern California.

The California Rifle & Pistol Association, founded in 1875, provides training in the safe, responsible, and enjoyable use of firearms; sanctions competitive shooting state championships; and fights for the constitutional right to keep and bear arms for those who choose to own a gun in California for sport, hunting, or self-defense.

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